Shrek...the musical that goes nowhere

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:29am

After losing the White Christmas lotto this evening, I wandered over to TKTS at 7:15 to see if there was anything I was interested in seeing still up on the boards. To my surprise, Shrek was. So, I purchased a ticket, in the orchestra, for $67...which, kind of ridiculous/sad that a half price ticket is now $67, but whatever.

Anyway, I found the entire show to be a giant bore. It just sits there, and never once ever takes off. There's nothing particularly exciting or interesting about any of it. It's not horrible, it's just bland, bland, bland.

The direction was tepid, at best. Jason Moore doesn't seem to have any idea how to stage a large musical, because a high school drama student could have staged it more cleverly and creatively than this. The choreography, when it existed, was stolid.

There were a few pleasant melodies in the score, but nothing memorable. I didn't walk out of the show humming any songs, which for a show like this, the score should be memorable. It wasn't. Again, just bland. Not horrendous, but not very good. I thought the burping/farting number was rather crass, and not enjoyable in the least.

I had a lot of problems with the book, which had a lot of jokes that didn't land. I know they've made cuts this week, but it needs to be tightened even more. They need to work on trying to make Donkey less of a caricature, for starters. Also, Shrek needs to be given something to do in the first act besides walking around, watching the action.

The design, which I had really looked forward to, looked cheap. I was expecting to be wowed by the swamp scenes, but no such luck. Two dimensional trees don't cut it in the era of $120 tickets. The costumes were fine, but not particularly memorable. I do give credit to whomever designed their prosthetics, because Shrek's face looked great. The lighting was kind of bright...even the scenes that took place at night were awfully bright.

The cast is mostly game, but isn't given a lot to work with. The ensemble, which has talented performers like Jen Cody, Aymee Garcia, Chris Hoch, and the fantastic Haven Burton in it, don't get to do anything. Talk about a missed opportunity. I have not a clue why Tartaglia gets special billing- his part was no larger than the other fairy-tale characters.

Daniel Breaker does nothing to erase the memory of Eddie Murphy from the film. Sutton Foster is dull, lifeless, and appears to be phoning it in already. She was milquetoast. Her singing was good enough, but not at all special. How this woman is a "star" and gets to continue originating roles is beyond me. D'Arcy James is a great performer, and he sings very well, but he hasn't quite yet found any humanity in Shrek, partly because they don't seem to have written any in for him. He doesn't make much of an impression.

Chris Seiber fares the best, and basically steals the show. His numbers were the only ones that are really entertaining, and go anywhere. His comic timing is great, and he gets the biggest laughs of anyone.

Audience reaction seemed fairly muted. There was the obligatory standing o, but it was not at all enthusiastic.

All in all, this was a giant missed opportunity. I had a FAR better time at the infinitely more entertaining production of High School Musical over at Papermill this afternoon.

Updated On: 11/16/08 at 12:29 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:49am

It's amazing to me that a show like this gets a standing ovation, but tonight I saw "The Seagull," and was so captivated by it, and maybe three people stood up at the end. I was so surprised.

And I agree with most of your assessment, although if you thought the farting number was 'crude,' then maybe you were expecting another show. I thought there were a few hummable tunes, like "Story of My Life," and "When Words Fail." But yeah, I was not "wowed" by the technical aspects. I thought the set-up into Sutton Foster's first scene was lame with the DVD joke. And most of the jokes didn't land, at all. And please, for the love God, can they give Donkey a snout, so he doesn't look like an actor dressed-up like a Donkey going to a costume party.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:53am

if you thought the farting number was 'crude,' then maybe you were expecting another show

No, I've seen the films. i said "crass," not crude, but same idea. I just didn't think we needed a song about it. The joke went on far too long. A moment or two of dialogue would have sufficed.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:53am

I simply adore your review. I'm so tempted to forward it to Chris. At least you singled him out nicely.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:57am

Yeah, but the performance I saw the audience was eating it up. I agree with you, but from a direction stand point, it's an audience pleaser. I thought the song needed to be faster, I hope they speed it up a little.

Question - this is way nit picky - but at your performance did Christopher Sieber, at the final scene where Shrek and Fiona sort of "out" themselves, did Sieber put his hair behind his ears when he said "What?" I know that's such a small thing to notice, but honestly, that alone made me want to see the show again. It was brilliant. I laughed so hard, and I wanted to throw the Tony at him.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 1:09am

How many people were at the White Christmas lotto? When I walked by at 7, there seemed to be 30-40 people. How many tickets do they give away?

It seems like my decision to see Billy Elliot a second time instead of getting a TKTS Shrek ticket was a wise one.

[sn2214]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 1:48am

I was there too tonight (Sat. Night) and sadly I have to agree with adamgreer. Best songs were mediocre at best and no song was memorable enough. Stage and sets couldn't be anymore tedious and uninspired. Shrek and Donkey didn't even look like they formed genuine friendship, they were just walking around stage together. I guess I expected much funnier, more creative, clever show than this mess....

And who thought that it would be a good idea to have sentimental whiny self-pitying Shrek?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 2:21am

I just think this show is going to get clobbered by the critics. Even family-friendly shows have to have decent reviews to keep running.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 3:36am

Not so. Word-of-mouth is even more powerful than critic reviews.

Example? One word: WICKED. Ripped to shreds by every critic yet it is STILL doing over 95% capacity weekly.

Word-of-mouth is what keeps shows like MAMMA MIA!, THE LION KING, etc. doing excellent business. SHREK is going to do sensational, regardless of how the critics treat it. SHREK is an internationally known and loved film. Tourist audiences (who Broadway depends on entirely) will flock to it simply because they know it.

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 4:07am

agree with Brody on this one.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 4:15am

*temporary threadjack* White Christmas has a lottery? Details?

[massofmen]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 8:30am

Brody,
, Wicked was not "ripped to shreds" by the critics. If you look in time out magazine now it gives Wicked 2 1/2 stars. The times was mixed as were most reviews. "ripped to shreds" would be the reviews for tale of two cities, or john patrick Shanley's newest musical which was without question "ripped to shreds".
Shrek still will not fair well in this downturn of disposable income as taking a family of four (which is the major demographic of this shows ticket sales) to see this "drek" for 4-600 dollars is not feasible when there are better family shows out there.
Shrek will not die right away but it certinly will not become the world wide hit dreamworks was hoping for..I give it a year

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 8:57am

The critics who mattered destroyed Wicked. Ben Brantley said the only redeeming factor was Kristin Chenoweth when he saw it. He literally said she was the only notable aspect of the show. Most other critics did not like it.

On the same note: Beauty & the Beast. It was absoluely clobbered by critics, yet it ran 14 years. Reviews really don't matter...

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 10:21am

>>After losing the White Christmas lotto this evening, I wandered over to TKTS at 7:15 to see if there was anything I was interested in seeing still up on the boards. To my surprise, Shrek was. So, I purchased a ticket, in the orchestra, for $67...which, kind of ridiculous/sad that a half price ticket is now $67, but whatever. <<

You do realize that the show is still in previews and most, NOT ALL, shows MAY tend to put themselves in the TKTS to get people in the door and start the Word-of-mouth trend. I was not in town when Wicked and Jersey Boys opened but they might have been available because they did not open with a bang. It was after people started seeing them and telling everyone else to see it that they hit the tipping point.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 10:42am

Word-of-mouth is what keeps shows like MAMMA MIA!, THE LION KING, etc. doing excellent business.

I wouldn't use Lion King or Mamma Mia as shows that are strictly word of mouth shows. Brantley raved (as did most other major critics) about Lion King, saying that, "there is simply nothing else like it." And, he gave Mamma Mia a very positive review, admitting he had a great time there.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 1:36pm

Exactly. I mean, Tale of Two Cities was "ripped to shreds" by critics, and yet has a very recognizable name, and it failed. So? Same goes for "Legally Blonde," etc. I'm not saying it's going to be a huge flop, I just don't see it - in its current state - being this mega hit musical.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 2:12pm

Sounds like somebody was a little too disappointed about not winning the White Christmas lotto and carried those feelings into another theater looking to pick a fight! HAHA!

While your opinion on the show is appreciated, you are the first person to find so many things wrong with the production. Kinda makes a guy wonder....???

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 9:43pm

It was the same thing with Jersey Boys. Mixed reviews and was always on TKTS, but good work of mouth plus it won the Tony and it's been nearly sold-out every week since.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 9:48pm

This ain't no Jersey Boys.

Sounds like somebody was a little too disappointed about not winning the White Christmas lotto and carried those feelings into another theater looking to pick a fight! HAHA!

I actually couldn't have cared less about losing the White Christmas. It was not something I was really looking forward to, but thanks for trying to analyze my reasons for not liking a show, doc.

While your opinion on the show is appreciated, you are the first person to find so many things wrong with the production. Kinda makes a guy wonder....???

What exactly does it make you wonder?

[deadparrot]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 9:54pm

Because anyone who dislikes a musical for any reason is automatically a saboteur devoted to the complete and utter annihilation of said show. Obviously.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 9:54pm

Make me wonder how everyone else got it so wrong...Doc!

HAHA!

[tommigyrl5]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 2:04am

I don't think he got it wrong at all. Shrek is a train wreck. Has been since opening night in Seattle. AdamGreer, I heard DBreaker is "coon-ing" big time. Is his take on Donkey the offensive minstrel show that I've heard it is?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 2:14am

^Listen, get over the fact that Chester was fired. LOL


"What exactly does it make you wonder?"


How someone who goes to see Wicked of all dreck so freakin' much would actually dislike Shrek, HAHA.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 3:52am

I went to the show Saturday night and I must say that I had a great time. I found all the jokes to be funny and I loved the sets and the costumes. I will agree with Brody that while this show might not get the best of reviews it will still do well. Keep in mind that this show is an alternative form the typical Disney show for parents who want to take their kids to a first show on Broadway.

tommigyrl5, I wouldn't say the performance of Donkey in the show is a minstrel show. I would say that Breaker was just playing it safe and just doing what Murphy did on film. Of course the audience that I saw loved it because it was the same take on the character that they knew and loved from the movie.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 6:28am

DId someone just say Legally Blonde was ripped apart the critics?, 80 percent of Blondes reviews were positive